Combination jig and sluice box.



H; W. FELLOWS.. COMBNATION HG ANU SLUICE BOX. APPLlCATION FILED AUG.9. 1916.

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Patented 0st, 16,191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

INVENTOR BY @ff/wund I'I. W. FELLOWS.

COMBINATION lIG AND SLUICE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9.19m.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Hugh WFeZ/o WS @jgmncg AmRNEYS HUGH W. FELLOWS, OF COLFMI, CALIFORNIA.

Y l COMBINATION JIGr AND SLUICE BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Oct. 16, 1917..

Application led August 9, 1916. Serial No. 113,900.

To all whom it mag; concern:

Be it known that I, HUGI-r WV. FnLLows, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colfax, in the county of Placer and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination Jig andl Sluice Boxes, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a combination jig and sluice box for'separating gold, platinum and other preciousmetals from black sands and gravel.v

One of the objects of the presentv invention is to provide a simple, substantial, easily operated machine of the character described, which may be placed at the tailing end of anordinary sluicebox and which is-particularly adapted for saving gold, platinum or other precious metals too line to settle in-y the riflies of the sluice box and which are generally lost. l

Another objectl of the invention is to provide a novel form of jigging box adaptedto coperate with a sluice; to provide a combination riffle and screening surface adapted to form a bottom for the sluice, and to provide means for establishing counter-currents between the jiggingV box andk sluice, as will hereinafter be described.

Further objects will hereinafter appear. The invention consists of the parts and the' construction andcombination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and Y claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings-in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the combination jig and sluice box.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of same, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3--3, Fig. l. p y

Fig. 4 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section on line-4 4, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a suitable form of supporting frame in which is supported a sluice box 2.

The upper end of the box is pivotally sup-l ported in the frame A, as at 3, while the,

lower or tailing end isadjustably hung from a pair of brackets 4 to permit the pitch or slope of the box to be increasedAV or decreased, as. conditions demanded. Built integralv with the sluicevbox 2, or suitablysecured to same, is a jigging box 5, in which is mounted a paddle 6. This paddle is pivotally mountedin the lower end of the box` as at 7 and is adapted to be oscillated by means of power obtained from a water wheel 8 driven bythe discharging water and tailings from; the sluice 2, the rotating movement of the wheelbeing transmitted through a crank 9 and the links and levers generally indicated at 10. Forming a bottom for a portion of the sluice box and at the same time a partial covering for the jigging box 5, is a section 11, to which is secured a pair of downwardly extending baflie plates 12 .and 13. The section l1, positioned as shown,

shown at 20, and is particularly providedV for thev purpose `of saving values, such as gold,v platinum and other precious metals Which are too fine to settle behind the riflies in an, ordinary sluice box. In the present instance, a grizzly 21 has been provided,

which receives the discharge from the tailing'v end of an ordinary sluice box. This grizzly permits the finer sands to pass through` while all rocks and coarser gravel are discharged` at the points indicated at 22 and 23. The water and sand thus separated from the coarser materials are passed through thesluice box 2 and across the fabric covered screens 111 and 15 shown, before they are finally permitted to discharge at the lower end where they impinge upon, and drive, the water wheel 8 as previously described. The constant rotating movement of the wheel 8 transmits sufficient power through the cranks and levers shown, to impart an oscillating movement to the paddle 6. This movement of the paddle causes the` water in the jigging box to move bodily in.

one direction or another, consequentlyy causingy more or less of a suction through the combined screens and fabrics indicated at Band a discharge through the combined screens and fabric covering indicated at C or vice versa. It also creates a suflicient agitation in the jigging chamber proper to prevent settling of finer materials, which may have entered through either `screen covered opening. This agitating movement is in the present instance more or less beneficially increased by the provision of the which is of, great importance as it agitates the whole contents of the jigging box, thus preventing lighter materials from settling and discharging through the spout indicated at 25 and as they are kept in asuspended condition, it can readily be seen that they are given an opportunity to work outwardly through the screens just as readily as they arev admitted. A comparatively cleaner concentrate'can in this manner be obtained than would otherwise be possible. The provision of the riflles 19 is also an important feature as these serve as traps to prevent a free passage of values across the screen surfaces, forming'the covering of the jigging box and at the same time form eddies which direct the values down against the fabric surface, where they nally work through, then through the screens 15, the gravel beds 17 and the lower screens 14.

' Another important feature is the provision of a water supplying box, such as indicated at 30. This is positioned on one side of the sluice and jigging box and is provided with an arcuated port 31 through which a connection is lmade between the jigging paddle 6 and the exterior lever 32. The box is also provided with two ports 33 and 34, the size of which may be increased or decreased by gate valves 35, such as shown. Water is admitted to the box 30 from any suitable source through a pipe 36 and its admission to the jigging box is entirely controlled by the position of the gate valves 35.v Itis therefore possible to admit more water on one side of the paddle than on the other, this being important as itis often necessary, particularly where considerable pitch is given to the sluice 2. The machine asa whole is simple in construction and easy to operate.Y The adjustable link .t0 provided, permits the stroke of the paddle 6 to be increased or decreased, `as conditions if demand, thereby increasing or 'decreasing 'the violence of agitation maintained within Ythrough the screens to such an .extent that comparatively light weight particles may pass through; while .an increase of the action of th-e counter-currents by a greater movement to the paddle and a greater volume of ywater admitted, will forcev the lighter particles out and only admit particles of'certain specific gravities. Practically any grade of concentrate may in this mannerbe obtained and as a valve 111 is employed in connection with a discharge Y25, it will readily be seen that a continuous discharge and operation is possible. While a water wheel and a specific arrangement of connecting levers is here. shown for the purpose of transmitting an oscillating movement to the paddle 6, it is obvious that any other form of motive power may be employed and that I do not wish to limit myself to this specific structure here shown.

The materials and iinish of the several parts of the invention may be suchas the judgment and experience ofthe manufacturer may dictate. Y

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and thatv I do not wish'to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patentisf 1. The combination with a jigging box, of a screen forming a cover forthe jig, a paddle'pivoted at its lower endv in the jig and a U-shaped baiiie member inclosing the upper swinging end of the paddle and paced from the ends and bottom of the 2. In combination with a jigging box, a horizontal member arranged at the center of the top of the box and spaced from the respective box ends, screens disposed in the space between the ends of the member andy bottom, a paddle pivoted at its lower end` tothe box and having its upper end movable in the space between said baille plates,

means to oscillate the paddle, and screens disposed in the space between the ends of the member and the ends 0f the box.

4. In combination with a jigging box, and a swingable paddle therein, a water supplying box at one side of the jigging box, having ports communicating with opposite sides of the paddle, valves in said water supplying' box controllingvthe ports, said water supplying box having an arcuate slot, and means to operate the paddle includingI an element arranged in the Water supplying box and having a connection with the paddle which connection extends through said arcuate slot.

5. In combination with a jigging box, and a swingable paddle therein, a water supplying box Vat one side of the jigging box, having ports communicating with opposite sides of the paddle, valves in said water supplying box controlling the ports, and means arranged in the water supplying box to aetuate the paddle.

6. In combination with a jigging box having a permeable ore supporting bed, a pair of spaced baffles in said box in depending relation to the top of the box and having their lower ends spaced from the box bottom to allow water to pass beneath the lower ends of the baflles, and a paddle in the box pivoted at its lower end and having its upper end movable in the space between the balfles.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGH W. FELLOWS.

IVitnesses:

D. n FALCONER COLFAx, S. G. WATTS CoLFAx.

Copies of this patent may be obtained :for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

